Airbnb to Support Hosts During COVID19 Crisis

Brian Chesky, Airbnb's Co-founder, CEO and Head of Community, has outlined several initiatives designed to support hosts through the ongoing COVID19 crisis.

As part of this support package, Airbnb has said that it will pay hosts a combined total of US$250 million to help cover the cost of COVID19 cancellations.

When a guest cancels an accommodation reservation due to a COVID19 related circumstance, with a check-in between 14 March and 31 May, Airbnb says that it will pay the hosts 25% of what a host would normally have received through the cancellation policy.

This applies retroactively to all COVID19 related cancellations during this period. This cost will be covered entirely by Airbnb and the payments will begin to be issued this month.

Guests with reservations booked on or before 14 March will still be able to cancel and receive a standard refund or travel credit equivalent for 100% of what they paid.

Superhosts and Airbnb Experience Hosts

Airbnb is also creating a US$10 million relief fund for Superhosts who rent out their own home and need help paying their rent or mortgage, plus long-tenured Experience hosts trying to make ends meet.

Airbnb employees started this fund with US$1 million in donations out of their own pockets, and the three founders Joe, Nate and Brian, are personally contributing the remaining US$9 million. This specific fund supports hosts from every country and region except mainland China, where hosts already have a dedicated assistance program. To qualify, hosts who offer a place to stay must:

- Only share their primary or secondary residence—no more than 2 active listings;

- Show a reliance on Airbnb as a vital source of income;

- Have a verified identity;

- Have been a Superhost for 1+ years; and

- Have lost a significant percentage of their earnings due to COVID19.

Airbnb has stated that, "We want to support as many hosts as we can, but we also want that support to be meaningful. So we’ll be reviewing applications carefully and will select only those hosts who demonstrate the most need."

Airbnb is also creating a way for guests to donate to any of the hosts who they’ve previously stayed with. This is expected to go live later this month.

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